By Richard Jacinto
I got a bike fit two days before the race and it paid off. Turns out I was too far behind the pedals and too low. Definitely improved my trainer spin. Time for some real-world data.
I raced Saturday at CCCX #3, 5th place, Sport 45–54, 1:36’11″. I decided at the last minute to race at Cool and didn’t arrive at my brother-in-laws in Roseville until 9:30 PM. Strange bed coupled with the time change = a fitful night’s sleep.
We arrived at 8 AM so I didn’t have to stand in line for signups. Got a chance to rest in the car before suiting up. I’ve been looking at embrocation, but cost and smell are negatives. I used generic Capsaicin cream instead. Didn’t feel warm initially, but after the race my legs were burning.
I was concerned about my tires de jour, Stan’s Crows. They climb great and roll fast at the expense of mud traction. No worries, the course was dry as summer without the dust. Hero Dirt. Even the swamp was less swampy. No beer handoff on the second lap, so I stopped to pocket a PBR for the finish.
I was going back and forth with a Mad Cat rider and after crossing Knickerbocker creek the second time I asked him what group he was in. Turns out we were in the same group so I kicked it up a notch. On the climb before the grassy singletrack descent, I saw Marco, a Quadzilla teammate. Once we finally made contact, I asked him to block for me. His response was, “You have to pass me first.” His invisible bungee cord gave me the separation I needed. It took about a mile to pass him just before the double track descent. After crossing the creek prior to the finish, I looked back for traffic before cracking open the PBR I picked up earlier.
No Sport times were posted, so it was a pleasant surprise when another Quadzilla teammate, Rafael, was called up. 3rd Place, Sport 30–39. I was disappointed that my name wasn’t called during the 40–49 results. I was just starting to leave when they called my name. I forgot I aged up. My first senior moment.
3rd Place, Sport 50–59, 1:37:06. Only 10 sec slower on the 2nd lap.
